Between July 2024 and June 2025, South Africa's electricity consumption comprised a significant majority from fossil fuels. More than 80% of the electricity consumed was generated from coal, underscoring a heavy reliance on fossil energy that significantly contributed to air pollution and climate change. On the brighter side, low-carbon energy sources made up almost 18% of the electricity mix. Solar energy accounted for nearly 9%, followed by wind at under 5%, and nuclear at a little over 3.5%. Although the share of low-carbon electricity is growing, there is much room for expansion, especially in solar and nuclear energy, which present viable pathways to a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly energy future for South Africa.
Is Electricity Growing in South Africa?
The trajectory of electricity consumption in South Africa reveals a concerning trend. In 2025, the average electricity consumption dropped to 3647 kWh per person, significantly lower than the historic high of 5214 kWh per person back in 2007, showing a decrease of over 1500 kWh. While this decline raises concerns about meeting future energy demands, it is encouraging to note that low-carbon electricity has shown some growth. The latest figures show a slight increase to 644 kWh per person from the previous record of 634 kWh in 2024. This positive change, albeit modest, highlights an awareness and movement towards clean energy, although the pace must accelerate dramatically to meet urgent climate and energy needs.
Suggestions
South Africa can learn from regions that have successfully increased their low-carbon energy share, particularly through solar and nuclear. France and Slovakia have demonstrated the potential of nuclear energy, with nuclear electricity generation reaching around 70% and 64%, respectively. On the wind energy front, states like Iowa and South Dakota in the United States have harnessed wind power to produce more than 60% of their electricity. South Africa should aspire to bolster its solar capacity by learning from Greece and Lebanon, which produced 26% and 31% of their electricity from solar sources, respectively. These examples showcase the potential trajectories for South Africa to substantially increase its low-carbon energy output by channeling efforts into expanding solar and nuclear infrastructures.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity generation in South Africa has had its ups and downs. The 1980s saw a notable increase in nuclear energy with significant gains in 1984 and 1986, only to witness declines in 1987 and again in the early 1990s. Negative trends reappeared in the early 2000s and mid-2010s, highlighting the critical need for consistent and expanded investment in nuclear energy. The past few years brought a promising surge in solar capacity, with a remarkable 13.4 TWh increase in 2024. Previous years have also seen considerable investment in wind energy, particularly since 2015, indicating a promising expansion in green electricity. Moving forward, sustained commitment to nuclear, solar, and wind energy development is essential for South Africa to secure a robust and low-carbon energy future.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.